Today, about one in 1000 children are diagnosed with autism, and boys are four times more likely to be affected than girls. What's largely led to this is an increase in understanding and awareness of exactly what autism entails.

Even with this greater knowledge, autism is still a puzzling syndrome. Not only is it difficult to understand the behaviour of people with autism, the world is confusing for the child who suffers from it, and unfortunately the cause is still unclear.

What is autism?

The term ‘autism spectrum disorders' (commonly referred to as ‘autism') is an umbrella description, which includes autistic disorder (sometimes called infantile autism or childhood autism), Asperger's disorder and atypical autism.

Autism is a behavioural change, usually diagnosed when a toddler is anywhere from 18 months to three years and, for want of a better explanation, it's when the hard wiring in the brain goes wrong.

This malfunction of brain interconnections often means a child who suffers from autism has a real difficulty in communication, in their social interaction and in their behaviour. It's hard for them to learn the purpose of body language or what it means. This inability to communicate spreads to the spoken and written word. They may misunderstand words, interpret them literally or not understand at all. Socialising can be scary and confusing. Some appear to withdraw and become isolated, while others try very hard to be sociable but never seem to get it right and can find friendships difficult.

Even more distressing, especially for parents, is when autistic kids can't appreciate the value of a kind word or phrase. At times, physical contact is impossible.

Are there signs I can look for in my child?

Professor Robyn Young and her team at South Australia's Flinders University have spent six years developing a tool to help detect early autism and other language difficulties. They've discovered 16 behaviours children should demonstrate by 18 months to two years. They are:

Response to name The child turns to look at the tester's face when his/her name is called.

Imitation of motor behaviours The child copies the tester's physical gestures.

Gaze switching The child shows an attempt to engage the caregiver's attention to an object or event.

Eye contact The child looks into the tester's eyes during a game of peek-a-boo.

Use of gestures The child spontaneously waves goodbye.

Appropriate ‘functional' play The child plays, using toys in the way they're intended to be used.

Pretend play The child uses an object as if it's another object.

Reciprocity of smile The child responds to the smile of a caregiver by smiling back.

Gaze monitoring The child follows the tester's point or gaze by turning their head to look in the same direction.

Response to verbal command The child responds to the caregiver's request.

Demonstrates use of at least one word The child uses a word, even as a response to prompting from the caregiver.

Appropriate posture for being picked up The child assumes appropriate posture (raising arms and/or elbows, making armpits available) when the caregiver approaches them to lift them up.

Appropriate posture for nestling The child nestles into caregiver's body when held.

Ability to switch tasks The child is happy to follow testing procedure and change tasks as the testing demands.

If the behaviours are unclear, or they display either of the following, further check-ups may be needed to rule out or diagnose autism:

Line up blocks The child becomes upset when the tester disturbs a line of blocks.

Response to sounds The child demonstrates an unusually adverse reaction to familiar household sounds.

Where to go if you need help

If you suspect your child has an autism spectrum disorder, have them checked out by a specialist. You'll need a referral from the child's GP or paediatrician. For information and support, contact Autism New Zealand by visiting www.autismnz.org.nz.

What you need to know

Difficulties with communication and social interaction produce a range of behaviours linked with autism. These may include:

Speech Absent, delayed or abnormal patterns.

Play Isolated, repetitive, destructive and obsessive.

Body movements  Stereotypical behaviour (such as flapping and toe-walking) and other behaviours that may cause self-injury (such as hand biting).

Obsessive behaviour With favourite topics, objects, places, people or activities.

Rituals Routines bring some order to chaos and confusion. A change in routine can be difficult to cope with.

Tantrums Used to express confusion or frustration.

Sensory sensitivities Certain sounds, colours, tastes, smells and textures.

Causes

Myth Genes cause it.

Fact Parents with autistic siblings have a slightly increased risk of having an autistic child.

Myth It's caused by vaccines or the preservative within them.

Fact This isn't correct

Myth It's caused by inflammatory bowel disease.

Fact No good science proves this.

Can vaccines cause this disorder?

Whether vaccines cause autism remains in debate. It is claimed that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine causes inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which damages a child's stomach and brain, and that the vaccine contains mercury, which damages developing brains. The fears stem from a 1998 study that most of the original authors later retracted. If you're concerned, remember that many worldwide studies have found no link between the MMR vaccine and IBD or autism. If you have questions, talk to your doctor.

Is there a cure?

There's no known cure for autism, but the sooner a child is diagnosed and enrolled in an early intervention programme, the better. Specialised education and structured support can help a child develop skills, minimise behaviour problems and give parents or caregivers access to appropriate services and professional support.

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